SolidWorks Success at Simon Austen

Starting a new business…  Simon Austen has taken the big step, from engineering and designing products for several leading retail and point-of-sale companies, to starting his own contemporary furniture design company, “Simon Austen Furniture”.

Critical to Simon’s start-up was the smooth and trouble-free installation of the equipment required by his company, including a CAD system. Simon offers, “I was very pleased with my purchase of SolidWorks from NT CADCAM Ltd: they were very helpful and did all they can, knowing I was a small business. They also advised me on the hardware, and when the equipment arrived - on time - the software was already installed. I was producing drawings within the hour!”

Simon chose SolidWorks and NT CADCAM Ltd on the basis of previous experience. Simon admits to seeing the transition from the drawing board to 2D computer-aided design during his engineering apprenticeship. He has operated well-known CAD brands, like AutoCAD, 3D Max and ProE, as well as SolidWorks during his lengthy engineering and now furniture career.

Simon explains, “My CAD selection had to be 3D. Whilst AutoCAD 3D Max achieved this it was unproductive, as any image produced in 3D Max had to be re-engineered into manufacturing drawings; whilst ProEngineer requires a mind-set and lengthy training. SolidWorks is intuitive to use: it enables me to produce excellent images, vital for discussions with clients, and then, without any re-working, I can generate working drawings for the workshop.

By doing the brainwork at the design stage for Simon, this means time in the workshop is productive. Decisions on material layout, joints and special jigs are already made and the computer enables the design to be examined and double-checked before selected and expensive woods are cut.

Simon was first introduced to SolidWorks about ten years ago, at a presentation by Richard Cave-Penney, now NT CADCAM’s Managing Director. Simon comments, “Richard’s company always provided good service, and when I contacted the local office in Bristol their sales engineer, Simon Brand, showed that their enthusiasm and care was still just as strong”

Thanks to the smooth operation of SolidWorks, Simon is able to focus on promoting his business, so to add that bit of extra service, may I invite you to make a note Simon’s website at www.simonausten.com